| Description |
x, 219 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm |
| Contents |
When a gene makes you smell like a fish -- It takes two to tango -- The first gene -- Phenylketonuria and the first genetic test -- Maple syrup urine -- Tangier island gene -- The celtic curse -- Metallic madness -- Just one bad apple -- The long stretch gene -- The dracula gene -- The expandable gene -- You can blame it on mom -- The gene that launched a revolution -- The fragile X -- The werewolf gene -- The cue ball gene -- Leaving an imprint -- Whither mom or dad gene -- The calico cat gene -- When a gene won't silence -- Just a little piece of the puzzle -- Speaking with a "forked tongue" -- The cheeseburger gene -- The bitter gene or the battle over broccoli -- The Schwarzenegger gene: from mighty mice to hulking human -- A performance gene -- An aging gene -- In the beginning -- The cut-and-paste genes -- Jomon genes -- Survivors' benefit -- The pregnancy genes -- Got milk? gene -- Innate sensing genes -- The sidedness genes -- Epilogue: snippets of information reveal the whole? -- Appendix: a genetics primer -- References |
| Summary |
"From the gene that causes people to age prematurely to the "bitter gene" that may spawn broccoli haters, this book explores a few of the more exotic locales on the human genome, highlighting some of the tragic and bizarre ways our bodies go wrong when genes fall prey to mutation and the curious ways in which genes have evolved for our survival." |
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"Lisa Seachrist Chiu offers here a smorgasbord of stories about rare and not so rare genetic quirks - the gene that makes some people smell like a fish, the Black Urine Gene, the Werewolf Gene, the Calico Cat Gene. We read about the Dracula Gene, a mutation in zebra fish that causes blood cells to explode on contact with light, and suites of genes that also influence behavior and physical characteristics. The Tangier Island Gene, first discovered after physicians discovered a boy with orange tonsils (scientists now realize that the child's odd condition comes from an inability to process cholesterol). And Wilson's Disease, a gene defect that fails to clear copper from the body, which can trigger schizophrenia and other neurological symptoms, and can be fatal if left untreated |
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On the plus side, we read about the Myostatin gene, a mutation which allows muscles to become much larger than usual and enhances strength - indeed, the mutations have produced beefier cows and at least one stronger human. And there is also the much-envied Cheeseburger Gene, which allows a lucky few to eat virtually anything they want and remain razor thin." "Chiu also manages to explain much cutting-edge research in modern genetics, resulting in a book that is both informative and entertaining. It is a must read for everyone who loves popular science or is curious about the human body."--BOOK JACKET |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Subject |
Human genetics -- Popular works.
|
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Human genetics -- Anecdotes.
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| Genre/Form |
Anecdotes.
|
| Author |
Seachrist, Judith A.
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| LC no. |
2005031803 |
| ISBN |
9780195169942 cloth alkaline paper |
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0195169948 cloth alkaline paper |
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